In this episode, Daniel Hill shares essential social media updates and creator strategy to help you grow your audience.

First, get the inside scoop on the new Instagram Reach Playbook, a digital guide to making content people care about, creating stronger Reels, and reaching new audiences in 2026. We also cover the latest Edits app updates, including carousel posts, clickable audio links, and the 'Popular Topics' feature for accounts over 10,000 followers. Next, hear about YouTube's AI tool, Ask YouTube, expanding to Shorts. Renee Richie from the YouTube Creator Insider team explains how this conversational discovery tool will help creators get feedback, write descriptions, and even create thumbnails.

Daniel shares his experience using Ask YouTube and how it can level up your content. Finally, we dive into creator strategy with Tessa Lyons, VP of Product at Instagram, who offers three practical tips for new creators: get comfortable talking to the camera (and Daniel's teleprompter hack!), use all Instagram formats (Reels, Carousels, Stories), and engage deeply with your community. Plus, a TikTok representative reveals hidden TikTok metrics beyond likes and shares, emphasizing retention, profile visits, and new vs. returning audiences for building a loyal community.

Don't miss these insights to improve your content across platforms! If you want to check out my new digital product guide, the Instagram Reach Playbook, find the link in the show notes.

Links:

The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)

Edits: Create Carousels in Edits (Instagram)

Edits: Add clickable links for your audio and find topics your followers are most interested in (Instagram)

YouTube: Ask Studio Coming To YouTube Shorts (YouTube)

Instagram: 3 Tips for Creating Content (Instagram)

TikTok: Hidden Metrics Most People Ignore (TikTok)

The Instagram Reach Playbook - Digital Guide (PDF)

The Equipment I Use:

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Instagram Stories! Host Daniel Hill dives into the latest Ask Me Anything with Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, to tackle crucial questions about the Instagram algorithm and your content's reach. Adam clarifies if scheduling posts or editing captions after posting truly hurts your reach, and gives a valuable explanation of how Instagram decides who sees your reels first. He also addresses common concerns about shadowbanning, explaining how to check your account status for any issues.

Beyond reach, Daniel and Adam discuss practical Instagram features: how many Instagram accounts you can manage on one device, and how to hide your active status. They also cover upcoming features and suggestions, including an update on the Instagram Series rollout, the possibility of a formal dating feature (Adam explains why it's unlikely, but acknowledges Instagram's role in dating), and the long-requested ability to reorder story highlights.

Finally, hear Adam's candid advice for someone early in their tech career about to graduate, emphasizing experimentation and adapting to new AI tools. Daniel shares his own perspective on navigating today's challenging job market. Follow The Instagram Stories for more social media news, strategy, and insights.

Links:

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, recorded live at the Podcast Movement conference, I sit down with podcast marketing strategist Arielle Nissenblatt to discuss essential strategies for growing your show's audience. Arielle, known for her work with EarBuds Podcast Collective and Podcast Plunge, shares insights from her keynote address, where she and Lauren Passell explored how people define audio content and consume it, including the role of video.

We dive into the challenges and opportunities of incorporating video into workflows, especially for independent creators like myself, who often operate as a team of one. Arielle emphasizes the importance of differentiating your show, whether you view it as a hobby or a business, and how that mindset impacts audience growth and monetization. We explore various monetization models beyond traditional ads, such as consulting or paid newsletters, and discuss the value of making strategic choices that align with your mission.

Arielle also offers a forward-looking perspective on the creator economy, highlighting how independent creators have the biggest opportunity to innovate and "get weird" with marketing. She encourages trying new things without waiting for permission and stresses the power of collaboration within the industry. From Jen Trepeck's creative napkin marketing to the broader landscape of audience development, this conversation is packed with actionable advice.

If you're an independent podcaster looking for fresh ideas to grow your show and navigate the evolving audio landscape, this episode with Arielle Nissenblatt is a must-listen. You can find a video version of this interview in the links below.

Links:

Video version of Interview (YouTube) (Spotify)

Arielle Nissenblatt : Website

EarBuds Podcast Collective (Website) & Podcast Plunge (Substack)

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sharpen your Instagram strategy with the latest updates, including Meta's new AI assistant in the Edits app. This episode dives into how this powerful tool analyzes your Instagram account data, offering personalized suggestions on what's trending, why certain videos performed well, and even ideas for hooks, captions, and trending audio. Daniel shares his own test, where the AI accurately identified a too-long hook in one of his videos, highlighting its actionable feedback. A clip from the Instagram @creators account emphasizes how the Edits Assistant saves time and helps creators understand their data for better content.

Next, learn about Instagram's new feature allowing you to boost live streams. Historically, boosting was limited to posts, Stories, and Reels, but now you can expand the reach of your live broadcasts. Daniel explains how this is a game-changer for creators doing sales, hosting events, or featuring keynote speakers, allowing you to schedule promotions at least two hours in advance. These boosted live streams run only while you're broadcasting, ensuring active Instagram users see your in-progress content and join your audience.

Finally, Daniel shares valuable Instagram content strategy advice from Adam Mosseri, the Head of Instagram, on content repurposing. Mosseri explains how to take one successful idea and translate it into different formats to get more mileage without simply reposting. He suggests turning a well-performing Reel into a carousel, or vice-versa, and looking at comments for new content ideas. Adam Mosseri also recommends recreating popular content with new information, like his annual updates on how Instagram ranking works. Daniel adds his own tip: use the Edits app AI to brainstorm ways to transform your successful content into new formats, leveraging its insights.

If these Instagram updates help you, please follow Daniel on Instagram @danielhillmedia and leave a review.

Links:

Edits: Meet the Edits assistant, the one that knows your Instagram (Instagram Blog)

Instagram: Boost your live video on Instagram (Instagram)

Instagram: Why to turn a piece of content into other content - and how (Instagram)

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Instagram Stories, I'm breaking down the latest insights from Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, on how creators can maximize their reach and understand Instagram ranking. This is part four in his series, where Adam shares three key pieces of advice: first, focus on engagement rates, not just total views or likes. He explains that Instagram uses proxies like watch time, shares, and likes to determine interest, so understanding the *rate* (percentage of people who liked or shared after seeing your content) is crucial. I'll also walk you through where to find these insights on your own posts, showing you how skip rate, share rate, and like rate are ranked in order of importance for your reach.

Adam's second piece of advice is to experiment. What resonates today might not resonate tomorrow, so keep trying new things. He even mentions `trial reels` as a low-pressure way to test content with non-followers. His third tip is about post frequency: while more posts can mean more reach, it's vital to find a sustainable rhythm to avoid burnout.

We also tackle listener questions, starting with an update on the `Edits app beta` for desktop. Adam confirms it's rolling out to a limited number of creators, and I'm personally eager to get my hands on it! For `Instagram Stories`, we discuss `automatic subtitles`. While they're not automatic, Adam demonstrates how easy it is to add them using the `caption sticker` from your sticker tray, giving creators the choice. I recommend adding subtitles to all your content, including song lyrics.

Other questions covered include whether Instagram `boosts specific genres` like art or food (Adam says no, it's about user interest), if `blocking someone harms your reach` (it doesn't), or if `deleting old videos or archiving` them affects current reach (also no). We clarify the `restrict feature`, explaining that restricted users can comment, but only you see it unless you approve, and they won't know they're restricted. Finally, Adam addresses using an `old account` to start posting again, advising not to overreact if the first few posts underperform as the algorithm warms up. We wrap up with a look at Meta's new `Muse Charm` hardware and how it can interact with your Instagram account.

If you found these insights helpful, follow the show and leave a review!

Links:

Instagram: Guide to Ranking (Instagram)

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode, I'm breaking down the biggest social media updates for creators from the recent Meta Connect and Made on YouTube events, plus a key Instagram strategy to boost organic engagement. First, we dive into the Meta Connect announcements, where Mark Zuckerberg unveiled Muse, their new AI personal agent with voice and real-time video capabilities. This "personal superintelligence" is designed to help users accomplish goals, and Meta is exploring a novel business model where Muse helps people make money through transactions, a significant shift from their usual approach. We also cover Meta's new glasses, including enhanced privacy features, private processing for AI, FDA-cleared hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, camera-free audio glasses, Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, and even VR glasses that offer a private cinema or workstation.

Next, we shift to the Made on YouTube event, focusing on new creator tools coming to YouTube Studio. You'll hear about Ask Studio expanding to mobile, which I've found incredibly useful for generating thumbnails and scripts. YouTube is also rolling out A/B testing for videos and Shorts, new Research and Insights destinations, Dynamic Thumbnails, and conversational editing for Shorts, all designed to help improve content performance and discover new audiences.

Finally, for our strategy segment, Steven Adams from Emplifi shares insights from their new report on Instagram collab posts. The data shows that letting creators publish the post (accepted collaborations) drives significantly higher organic reach and engagement, especially in retail and e-commerce, with over five times more shares for authentic content. The report also highlights that focusing on Reels for engagement is far more effective than carousels in these partnerships. I'll link to the full Emplifi report in the show notes. Thanks for listening! Follow the show and leave a review if these updates helped you think about your content strategy.

Links:

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Connect Roundup (Instagram)

Meta Connect 2026 (YouTube)

YouTube: MadeOn YouTube 2026: Shorts Series, Video A/B testing, Shopping Updates & more | Creator Roundup (YouTube)

Emplifi: Instagram collab posts drive higher organic engagement across brand sizes (Emplifi)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meta introduces its "Meta One" unified subscription tier and previews the upcoming "Edits+" feature. Threads launches new podcast integration tools, Instagram’s head explains algorithm controls, and growth strategist Maral Sattar shares tips for turning podcast content into engaging social clips.

In this episode of The Instagram Stories, host Daniel Hill breaks down the latest platform updates and social media strategies:

• Meta One Launch: Meta bundles individual subscription plans across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp into a single "Meta One" package offering enhanced AI features and new tools like links in Reels.

• Edits+ Preview: A first look at the upcoming Edits+ creator tools, featuring expanded cloud storage for cross-device project backups and additional Meta AI credits.

• Threads for Podcasters: New features for creators on Threads, including podcast profile banners, episode pickers, tappable link cards, and built-in reach insights.

• Instagram Algorithm Insights: Adam Mosseri shares three practical tools users can leverage to control their feed and tune their recommendations.

• Podcast Growth Strategy: Growth strategist Miral Sattar drops by to discuss faceless content tactics, B-roll utilization, and how to structure short-form video hooks for maximum listener conversion.

Links:

Meta: Introducing Meta One: A Subscription Service With More Features and AI to Create, Connect, and Stand Out (Meta)

Edits: Edits Plus: Coming Soon! (Instagram)

Threads: Threads Expands Podcast Toolkit for Creators and Listeners (FB)

Instagram: Part 3 of Ranking series - The controls you have to shape your experience (Instagram)

Leave a Review of the Podcast: Apple Podcasts

Connect with me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on Threads: @danielhillmedia

Connect with me on YouTube: @danielhill_media

The Equipment I Use:

Microphone: Shure MV7+ USB-C & XLR Podcast Dynamic Mic with Stand (Amazon)

Headphones: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds (Amazon)

Laptop: Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable Detachable 2-in-1 Laptop Tablet Touch | 13" (Amazon)

Phone: Samsung S25 Ultra with S-Pen included (Amazon)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.